Saturday, 28 June 2014

When writing this blog, we try to maintain a mix of interest, fun, safety features, accuracy and a bit of rivalry within the team, and most of the time we get the balance right.

However, I am aware that I posted a blog earlier in the week linking a van with some signwriting on the side with one of the team members.

On reflection, I'm afraid that particular entry was hurredly written on the spur of the moment, and published to the blog without proper thought or consideration of what I was writing. It was unfair, unneccesary and fell below our usual standards - something for which I take full reponsibility.

So, I'd like to apologise. To Big Menswear, to the team member concerned and to you the readers. It's quite clearly a Seat Alhambra MPV (multi purpose vehicle) and not a van at all. Sorry for misleading you.
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Wednesday, 25 June 2014

The Swanage Coastguard team were this evening tasked to assist south west ambulance with a casualty evacuation close to Swanage Cricket Club. A landing zone was secured to allow Rescue 106 to land and Medivac the casualty to hospital. Swanage Police also in attendance to assist.

Following the recent dog rescue the team were sitting at a local cafe enjoying a cold drink and debriefing the job when this van drew up opposite.
We can only assume he was looking for Roger, but sadly we couldn't find him anywhere.

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

This morning the team were tasked to the Downs in Swanage after "Ellie" fell down the cliffs about 30ft.

The team rigged the rope equipment up and sent a technician over the cliff to bring the dog back to safety.
Today we had a guest Technician in the shape of Phil Brolan who is the Station Officer of Southbourne Coastguard. Phil was working at the Swanage station when the call came in so with equipment and training the same now in the Coastguard, Phil joined in with no problems.

Once back on the top of the cliff a bowl of water and a hug from Phil saw the dog given back to her owners.

This is the 4th dog incident this year and whilst the weather remains hot and sunny please can we remind owners to keep their animals on a lead.

A man, whose small boat collided with the Sandbanks chain ferry, had a lucky escape last night (Friday) after being thrown into the water, going under the ferry and surfacing on the other side.
Portland Coastguard received several 999 calls earlier reporting that a small grey inflatable dinghy had suffered engine failure whilst in the path of the ferry. The two occupants were unable to start the engine in time causing it to collide with the chain ferry. The two men were thrown into the water, one going under the ferry before surfacing the other side.
The chain ferry, 'Bramblebush Bay' plucked one of the men from its own path. The other man was rescued from the water by a passing yacht. Both Poole RNLI All Weather Lifeboat and Poole RNLI Inshore lifeboat were diverted from another job, so were able to get to the scene quickly with our colleagues from Poole Coastguard team. The lifeboat assisted by removing the dinghy after it had become trapped in the chains and took it ashore with one of the casualties, the other being on the ferry. Both men were wet but unharmed and soon departed carrying their deflated dinghy back to the car.
Maddy Davey, Portland Coastguard Watch Manager says:
"The two men were very unfortunate that their boat broke down where and when it did. In this kind of situation quick communications are key and so a handheld vhf radio, mini flares or a mobile phone in a waterproof bag would have proved invaluable in contacting the Coastguard and requesting immediate assistance."

Thursday, 12 June 2014

Terence won a local car washing competition, and the first prize was to join the Coastguard Team for an evening up at Old Harry. Terence was ever so excited to meet Ben and explained that he liked Harry Potter, cleaning things and that his favourite music was Girls Aloud.

When he's older Terence wants to be a teacher '...because they work short hours and get lots of holidays.'

Within the team, there's always one prepared to go the extra mile, and on Tuesday night it was Brian.

When we took the camera man over the cliff we were concerned that his plimsolls weren't really the right footwear for the job, so without a moment's hesitation Brian asked what size he needed and promptly lent him his Size 9's. What a Star!

Brian was later spotted sitting watching proceedings from the side and not pulling on the tugger to recover the cliff tech, muttering something about no boots. What a slacker!

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

Three teams converged at Old Harry last night for one of the biggest training exercises we have done for a long time.

We've not trained at Old Harry this year, so it was a chance to refresh our rope rescue techniques on some unfamiliar cliffs and to get used to working with different people. Coastguard procedures, equipment and training are standard throughout the service and so in theory CROs (coastguard rescue officers) from one team ought to be able to drop seamlessly into another and understand the operation as though they were one of the main team. And so it was proved, as we worked firstly with Kimmeridge in lowering one of their technicians over the cliff and then with St Albans who had set up their own rope rescue equipment adjacent to ours, giving the unusual sight for the cliff tech of another cliff tech halfway down the cliff alongside him. Credit to all the teams for the way they were able to mix and match and work so efficiently.
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Brian going over the edge. Nick and Steve acting as edge safety officers assist him

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The extra long session allowed us to achieve a number of positives: We got cliff tech Brian over the cliff for a refresher and Nick too as he works towards his technician's ticket. Kerry and Terry worked the lines at the cliff top as they work towards being signed off 'Operators' and Gareth had an extended spell as OIC, allocating roles and ensuring a smooth operation. We also took a spare coastguard over the cliff with us on one of the descents - in real life, this second (untrained) person might be a paramedic or police negotiator who we'd take down and so it is always a good skill to practice.

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St Albans accompanied descent adjacent to us

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Later on we were joined by an ITV film crew and our 'accompanied descent' skills were put to good use when we lowered the programme host on one set of equipment and the cameraman on the other. With the distraction of a film crew and their interviews and other requirements, there's always the risk of losing concentration, but fair play to Ian and Gareth who ran a tight ship all night and kept the team focussed on the job in hand.

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Lots of coastguards.

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No doubt there'll be more on the filming another time, either here or on our Facebook page, - search for Swanage Coastguard.

Friday, 6 June 2014

A few days ago a Swanage resident sent out a request for people to come together at Fort Henry Studland to mark a few minutes silence for those you took park in the Normandy landings 70 years ago.

Fort Henry has its connections to those landings as Studland was a test ground in early 1944.

Tonight about 50 people turned up along with veterans, British Legion members and local clergy.

A short service was held to remember all those who took part , especially those who gave their lives.

Nick, Duncan and I along with our families attended and represented HM Coastguard. I was asked to read a poem on behalf of a veteran who sadly was unable to get to this event, a very moving tribute.

Pictured above is Cliff Brown, a Swanage resident who is a Normandy Veteran. Speaking to Cliff some years ago , I discovered the role Cliff took on the 6th June 1944 finding himself trapped on Omaha beach.

His story is one reason we take time to remember those who took part in the events of 6th June 1944.

Sunday, 1 June 2014

The team were called today at 13.25 to assist Dorset Police in a search for a missing male in the Durlston Country Park area.

Search teams deployed very quickly around the castle and lighthouse areas as it was over an hour since the person was last seen.
With the help of members of the public who kindly reported seeing the male running west towards St Albans Head the search teams moved rapidly westwards and the St Albans Coastguard team were tasked to assist.

A police helicopter joined the search whilst Police Officers searched key locations in the town and surrounding areas.

Just after 15.30 a Police Officer checking the main roads in Swanage spotted the male near to Victoria Avenue. The male was reunited with his family safe and well.

We would like to thank the public for their assistance in this search. A special thanks to a local coffee shop who kindly provided some pasties and cake for the team as many had missed lunch.

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